Davies joy as Forest equal record

24 March 2010 09:20

The record, set 30 years ago, was matched as Forest beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at the City Ground in the Championship on Tuesday night.

Davies still believes the big prize of automatic promotion is within Forest's sights after they moved to five points behind second-placed West Brom.

After goals by Wes Morgan and substitute Nathan Tyson set up the victory over Palace's survival fighters, Davies said: "If we keep winning we will put pressure on - and that's what we will strive to do.

"I am very proud of this team and my loyal staff. We've hit the 70-point mark now and that's a fantastic achievement for a team who were fighting relegation at this stage of last season.

"But all we are doing is looking at the next match and trying to get as many points on the board and see where it takes us.

"I am striving for success at this club and although some people see me as a pain that's what I will continue to be if it means getting us where we want to be.

"It's great that we have equalled the record of home wins but I am thrilled about the fact that we have kept our 18th clean sheet of the season and set so many other milestones."

Forest were not at their best against a Palace side who were reduced to 10 men when right-back Matt Lawrence was sent off for a handling offence to prevent Robert Earnshaw bearing down on goal in the 51st minute.

But they had already had the lift of a goal on the stroke of half-time when defender Wes Morgan crashed home a 25-yard strike.

And eight minutes from time Palace's prospects of a point were removed when Tyson scored after being set up by winger Paul Anderson.

It was tough on Palace boss Paul Hart, who was given a tremendous reception for his City Ground efforts that almost got Forest back into the Premier League seven years ago.

He said: "With 11 men on the field I always felt we would get something out of the game.

"I thought we should have had a free-kick in the incident before Matt Lawrence was sent off so it was a bit hard to swallow.

"We kept battling and that's what we will continue to do because I still feel we can get out of the situation we are in.

"I've got a hard core of senior players who are bearing the brunt of the work and a lot of kids on the bench but we will give everything we can to see us to safety.

"I couldn't fault us for effort tonight but I was just really disappointed we did not see it out until half-time and started the second half all square."